MUScoop

Of all the roster exists last year, who do you think would have been the "missing piece" for THIS team (assuming everyone else would have come)?

Dawson and DJ, as good as they were, I don't think would have been a good fit on this squad.

I wouldn't trade minutes for Koby over any of our gaurds.

Jamal might have worked in a similar role to Greg - instance offense off the bench - but would the D intensity match this team?

But to me it's Theo - if he was doing what he's doing now at Duke - spelling Kueth - letting Oso have some time at the 4 if needed - getting in there when we need a physical big who can keep Nate f*ckin Watson off the glass. I think Theo would fit on this team would make us a legit FF contender this year. 

I realize of course Kueth probably doesn't come if Theo is still here - and I wouldn't trade Theo for Kueth straight up - but a Kueth/Theo two-headed monster would be fantastic.

I didn't look at this from a playing time perspective. I looked at it from a who would most likely fit with the other players and who would least likely impact what we have going perspective.

I went with Cain based on that. I wouldn't change the team though.

I am extremely happy with the 2021-2022 MU men's basketball team.

I think Jamal would have been the best fit as a player and would have embraced the type of culture Shaka is instilling. 

Moved on.   Living the expectation-free life.

I still think that Carton's balls-to-the-wall style would've worked well within Shaka's system, as long as he accepted Shaka's commitment to defense and to 100% effort.

I also still think that Carton's presence would impact the opportunities and growth of Jones and Mitchell, and maybe even Kolek.

So, as the team is now, and as they are playing, I wouldn't take anyone back.

Agree with Theo.  If he played defense under control he's the big body necessary to keep the big 5s of the conference off the boards.  Shaka would have to coach the instinct to block everything out of him to be a better rebounder though. Kur does it more naturally with his length. 

Having said that I love our team and will stick with them as far as they go.  Go MU!

None.

What? No Perez option?

I voted no one. But if I had to choose a player it would be Jamal. He's unselfish and would help quite a bit on the boards.

Here's a hypothetical. If we cloned Shaka, and he clone Shaka coached the transfers, and original Shaka coached the current starters, who would win?

Quote from: lawdog77 on February 03, 2022, 07:51:57 AM
Here's a hypothetical. If we cloned Shaka, and he clone Shaka coached the transfers, and original Shaka coached the current starters, who would win?

Is the clone full-sized? Or a mini-Shaka?

Mini-Shaka >>>> Wojo

Quote from: lawdog77 on February 03, 2022, 07:51:57 AM
Here's a hypothetical. If we cloned Shaka, and he clone Shaka coached the transfers, and original Shaka coached the current starters, who would win?

Too many ethical issues.  Just clone Al

I said none. The presence of any of them would mean one of our transfers wouldn't be here.

Quote from: Uncle Rico on February 03, 2022, 07:57:32 AM
Too many ethical issues.  Just clone Al

Hologram Al would get jealous

I would have voted "other" if offered (Wojo-duh).

Quote from: PointWarrior on February 03, 2022, 07:45:54 AM
What? No Perez option?

Or Dexter option.

Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2022, 07:08:47 AM
I am extremely happy with the 2021-2022 MU men's basketball team.

Same here. You go with what you got.

Those guys left for a reason. Good for them. Good for us.

Not sure I want anyone who is not all in about being here.

Quote from: StillAWarrior on February 03, 2022, 07:52:53 AM
Is the clone full-sized? Or a mini-Shaka?

Clone Shaka would be bald Shaka.

I voted none. You never know what it would do with talent development and team chemistry. And this team's chemistry - especially on defense - is off the charts. If it ain't broke....

To me, the more intriguing question is "which player do you think most regrets leaving?" I have to think DJ or Dawson, no?

Quote from: GooooMarquette on February 03, 2022, 08:09:21 AM
I voted none. You never know what it would do with talent development and team chemistry. And this team's chemistry - especially on defense - is off the charts. If it ain't broke....

To me, the more intriguing question is "which player do you think most regrets leaving?" I have to think DJ or Dawson, no?

Yeah - I mean I wonder if Jamal and Koby are happy to be the BMOC on a team that might get auto 13 seed bid and lose in the first round, or if they'd rather be a key piece on a team with legit 2nd weekend ambitions. Of course at the time they left it made sense.

Interesting to see that so many pick Jamal - I just keep thinking that somewhere along the line (hopefully not in the first round) we're going to run into a team where we need a man's body in the paint. Theo was certainly that. Theo doesn't fall over against Nate Robinson at the end of the PC game.

Quote from: tower912 on February 03, 2022, 08:02:01 AM
Or Dexter option.

Or Symir who I think would probably fit best with this group. But wow, lots of turnover from last year. Completely different group of guys.

I'd say most are probably pretty happy with their decision to leave MU, so good for them.

The answer is DJ Carton and I don't see how it's even debatable.

DJ was the best two-way player of those options. He wasn't great in his one year here, but he had the athleticism, the ability to get into passing lanes, the ability to shoot from three (40% at OSU), and the pedigree to be a stud under DeAndre Haynes, similar to what Coach Haynes did with Zavier Simpson and Jordan Poole at Michigan and with Ant Cowan and Darryl Morsell at Maryland. In addition, history shows that playing two point guards together is almost a requisite to win a national championship. DJ would take pressure off Tyler by giving us a second option to finish inside. DJ Carton, if properly coached (which he wasn't in year one but would've been had he stayed) would take Marquette from a hot team that could be dangerous in March to a legit title contender.

As far as the rest, Dawson doesn't play defense and both Koby and Jamal are better suited at the mid-major level. Cain would be my second choice, but Carton is #1 with a bullet powerful enough to break the world.

Watson, not Robinson.   And you are probably correct.   MU does not have a big who can wrestle with Watson, Obiagu, Sanogo.   Ah, well.   Love the one you're with.

Cain would be the only one but if O-Max is a better fit.....especially if he plays like he did last night.  He's got a very high ceiling once he puts it all together.

Would have never guessed that this would be the answer if you asked me before the season, but as the results show I agree that it's Jamal.

That would likely mean an Emarion redshirt year but for the sake of this seasons team I think Jamal would certainly improve this squad. We would likely see less of OMax, but again that would be worth it for this season imo.

It would also be fun as heck to have the Detroit fellas together for Shakas resurrection of the program, they've been great student athletes and seem to improve the attitude of those around them.

Of course that's nothing against the current guys here- as a matter of fact it's a testament to those guys that this deep into the season a lot of people wouldn't take any of the former players back

Quote from: 1SE on February 03, 2022, 08:33:29 AM
Theo doesn't fall over against Nate Robinson at the end of the PC game.

The image of Theo boxing out Nate Robinson is an amusing one

Athletically, I continue think DJ would have been awesome in this system offensively and there'd be a highlight reel of his dunks alone. However, my impression is he wouldn't have fit the culture and defensive intensity required to play in Shaka's system. He seemed fired up when Shaka was named and then gradually became quiet before he announced he was going pro. I don't think he was ready to buy into the system. So not DJ.

Dawson had 2 chances to buy into Shaka's system, both as a prospective Texas recruit and as a returning Soph at MU. He passed both times. His 3-point shooting ability might have been nice, particularly early in the season when the team was struggling, but they have corrected that. He doesn't have the speed to play this system of defense either. His rebounding would fill a deficiency, but if he can't play this defense he wouldn't be on the court enough for it to matter. So not Dawson.

MU's defense switches everything. Much as I am a fan of Theo, we saw in the past what happens when Theo gets switched on the parameter. He also is no better a rebounder than our current 5's, so no help there. So not Theo.

Koby? I appreciated his intensity and effort, but his travels and other turnovers drove me nuts. I can't see anything he does being better than what is already currently on the roster. So not Koby.

Jamal would have been a great culture fit IMO. The one solid thing he could have brought to the team is his rebounding; the guy can board. But, he had issues anytime he had to dribble, and he wasn't great defensively. Maybe Shaka could have coached him up on defense and put him in situations where he could succeed offensively, but if he is the player we saw, not Jamal.

So no one. But if I was forced to choose one, Jamal for his rebounding and team fit.

If you assume that the player would buy in, not scare away any of the new guys we got,  not detract from team chemistry, and not significantly limit the development of the current roster.... then it's DJ Carton hands down. He had the skillset to rampage in this system.

Given that you can't make all those assumptions,  no one.

Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2022, 08:52:56 AM
The image of Theo boxing out Nate Robinson is an amusing one

Ha - I got it right the first time!

Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2022, 09:03:07 AM
If you assume that the player would buy in, not scare away any of the new guys we got,  not detract from team chemistry, and not significantly limit the development of the current roster.... then it's DJ Carton hands down. He had the skillset to rampage in this system.

Given that you can't make all those assumptions,  no one.

100% agree, DJ would be a monster. The "If" is why he is not here, though, IMO.

I voted "none". It was very tempting to choose DJ and we were all surprised when he went from really excited about playing for Shaka to going pro. I think there was far more to his decision than we will ever know and that he had conversations with Shaka that made it clear that despite DJ's phenomenal abilities, it simply was not going to work out.

Quote from: TSmith34 on February 03, 2022, 09:07:50 AM
100% agree, DJ would be a monster. The "If" is why he is not here, though, IMO.

Has he been hurt this year? 9 games with only 3 starts for the Swarm?

I mean no one predicted this, but you have to think featuring on this MU team would've done far more for his long term NBA prospects than what he's doing in Greensboro.

Quote from: 1SE on February 03, 2022, 08:33:29 AM
Yeah - I mean I wonder if Jamal and Koby are happy to be the BMOC on a team that might get auto 13 seed bid and lose in the first round, or if they'd rather be a key piece on a team with legit 2nd weekend ambitions. Of course at the time they left it made sense.

With all the unknowns, they made a good choice and I'm sure they're happy.  They are on winning teams that have great shots at making the tourney, having excellent individual years which can only help their exposure for the next level, which is as important as anything for their careers.

not a one

Quote from: 1SE on February 03, 2022, 09:18:27 AM
Has he been hurt this year? 9 games with only 3 starts for the Swarm?

I mean no one predicted this, but you have to think featuring on this MU team would've done far more for his long term NBA prospects than what he's doing in Greensboro.

Yeah, IF he bought into what Shaka was selling. We all saw that last year, when he turned up the intensity, he could be dominant. Really, really dominant. Problem was, he typically brought that 25% of the game. If Shaka could have gotten that out of him 75%-90% of the time, he is a lottery pick IMO.

But DJ went from all-in on the Shaka hire to cashing out so I don't think he could/wanted to do what was going to be required. Maybe he would have gone pro no matter who the coach was, but I think he missed a huge opportunity to play one more year and secure an eight-figure pro contract.

For this year's team, I'd have taken DJ first, Cain a distant second.

But either would have given us only one year, and I like that we'll have Kolek, Kam, Prosper, Joplin, etc, for multiple years. They are learning, improving AND helping us win.

So, looking at the macro picture, I'd take nobody.

Any of those guys would be useful, but I'd pick DJ.  Kids a player.  He would have fit well on this team.

Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2022, 07:08:47 AM
I am extremely happy with the 2021-2022 MU men's basketball team.

Clean slates can be good. Clean slates are the way to build your own culture and team. The thing I'm most impressed with is that Shaka let the guys make their mistakes and play through and learn from them rather than yank them and sit them on the bench. He instills confidence, something sadly Wojo lacked. While they struggled early the team now knows they can score and that defense is the key; lets hope our rebounding improve accordingly. I don't think the wheels are going to fall off this team as we close the season.

Quote from: PointWarrior on February 03, 2022, 07:57:02 AM
Mini-Shaka >>>> Wojo

Mimi Me >>>>Wojo

A friend and I were talking about this before the game last night. Hands down, Jamal. He is an elite rebounder and that is what this team needs. OMax has definitely had his moments, but with Jamal in this lineup, it is easily a top 15 team.

I'll take Omax over Cain seven days a week. His upside is extremely high and he has long career ahead of him at MU.

Dawson in a heartbeat.
Need length next year.  Also his 3 pt shooting adds another weapon on offense.
Greg, Oso, Justin, Stevie and Kam all took to Shaka's defense.  I don't think Dawson would have much problem either.

Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2022, 05:38:29 PM
I'll take Omax over Cain seven days a week. His upside is extremely high and he has long career ahead of him at MU.

I am in agreement with you here, Goose. O-Max is going to surprise a lot of people when it all starts to click.

Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2022, 05:38:29 PM
I'll take Omax over Cain seven days a week. His upside is extremely high and he has long career ahead of him at MU.

+1000

Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2022, 05:38:29 PM
I'll take Omax over Cain seven days a week. His upside is extremely high and he has long career ahead of him at MU.

Agreed. While Cain's rebounding would be a positive, OMax's defense is head and shoulders better. Does anyone think Jamal could have hounded Gillespie the way OMax did?

None, Shaka is well capable of building his own team. Don't miss any of 'em, hey?

Based on what I saw of them here and what I've seen of this team? None of the above, and it's easy. If you want to argue that they would be completely different players under Shaka than what we saw before I guess I'd listen.

Perhaps, for the long term, Aidoo.

Quote from: 4everwarriors on February 03, 2022, 07:48:13 PM
None, Shaka is well capable of building his own team. Don't miss any of 'em, hey?

I agree with this analysis.

Definitely None.

Some voted for Theo based on his defense.  The problem is he plays defense on both ends of the court. 

Cain... having a great year, right where he belongs

DJ & Dawson - Questions about mentality and buy-in

Symir, Perez, Koby etc - not good enough

Jose Perez scored 38 points on 33!!! shots tonight in a loss...talk about the green light...did Markus even ever take 33 shots in a game?

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 04, 2022, 09:19:42 PM
Jose Perez scored 38 points on 33!!! shots tonight in a loss...talk about the green light...did Markus even ever take 33 shots in a game?

6/19 on 2s appears to of been his issue

Quote from: PGsHeroes32 on February 04, 2022, 09:35:54 PM
6/19 on 2s appears to of been his issue

He wouldn't have 33 shots this year had he somehow stayed on this team.

The Manhattan game was on ESPN3 and I happened to catch the last few minutes of regulation and OT.

Right as I turned it on, Perez threw a bad pass for a turnover. He missed a tough inside shot but Manhattan still led by 1 when he grabbed a rebound, was fouled, and swished both FTs for a 3-point lead. There was too much time on the clock for Manhattan to foul when the Niagara player made the tying 3. The ball came to Perez for the final shot but he was closely guarded and didn't get off a good attempt.

In OT, I think Perez shot on every possession. He looked tired and every shot was short, but his teammates kept going back to him. I'm guessing that 10-12 of those 33 shots came in the final 8 minutes of the game (including the OT).

Didn't see the game before then, but listening to the announcers it sounded like he had dominated until that point.